As a community, we have come to count on each other to be entertained, challenged, and moved by what we watch and share on YouTube. We've been thinking a lot lately about how to make the collective YouTube experience even better, particularly on our most visited pages. Our goal is to help ensure that you're viewing content that's relevant to you, and not inadvertently coming across content that isn't. Here are a few things we came up with:

Stricter standard for mature content - While videos featuring pornographic images or sex acts are always removed from the site when they're flagged, we're tightening the standard for what is considered "sexually suggestive." Videos with sexually suggestive (but not prohibited) content will be age-restricted, which means they'll be available only to viewers who are 18 or older. To learn more about what constitutes "sexually suggestive" content, click here.

Demotion of sexually suggestive content and profanity - Videos that are considered sexually suggestive, or that contain profanity, will be algorithmically demoted on our 'Most Viewed,' 'Top Favourited,' and other browse pages. The classification of these types of videos is based on a number of factors, including video content and descriptions. In testing, we've found that out of the thousands of videos on these pages, only several each day are automatically demoted for being too graphic or explicit. However, those videos are often the ones which end up being repeatedly flagged by the community as being inappropriate.

Improved thumbnails - To make sure your thumbnail represents your video, your choices will now be selected algorithmically. You'll still have three thumbnails to choose from, but they will no longer be auto-generated from the 25/50/75 points in the video index.

More accurate video information - Our Community Guidelines have always prohibited folks from attempting to game view counts by entering misleading information in video descriptions, tags, titles, and other metadata. We remain serious about enforcing these rules. Remember, violations of these guidelines could result in removal of your video and repeated violations will lead to termination of your account.

The preservation and improvement of the YouTube experience is a responsibility we share. Let's work together to ensure that the YouTube community continues to thrive as a positive place for all of us.

How can you demote videos that are most viewed, top favourited, etc. just because they feature sexually suggestive themes or profanity? Containing those things doesn't change the fact the amount of times they are viewed or favourited, or how popular they are. This 'algorithm' only works to undermine the user's input into the videos that we all enjoy watching and producing. I'm all for protecting children from sexually explicit content if that's where the site is headed here, but the automatic demotion of videos based on their content alone is just not acceptable.

how pathetic... this isn't a kid's site. I'm guessing it's a worldwide thing, but given Australia's pathetic 'net filtering' bulls**t as well, are the Exclusive Brethren going around sticking their fingers in lately or something?

why don't people just get a life and choose not to watch something instead of denying other people their freedom by complaining about videos they don't even have to see?

totally disappointing - YouTube was great - but you guys are getting really lame and there are plenty of other free video sharing sites ready to take your traffic. and I know this because I work in IT.

If anything needs to me more strict about Porn, it's the definition of what's considdered nudity and what isn't. I know someone who got a video banned when all she showed was her shoulders. I got a video banned that showed nothing you wouldn't see in a Calvin Klein ad.

if you're gonna censor videos that contain no nudity but do count as offensive because they conform to one fetish or another, I've got a bet for you, give me the DVD box sets of half a douzen cartoons from the 80s or 90s, and I'll give you about 20 or so fetish scenes.

Every day more video sites are popping up, and people on Youtube are looking around for alternative sites. The MAIN reason for this is censorship.

I have no problem with warnings, however. That way, if people get offended by a video after clicking on a buitton that warned them exactly what was in it, it's their own fault. I honestly think that, if you gave Users the ability to put their own warnings on their videos, and turn them on and off similar to ratings and comments, that would save you guys allot of work AND protect Users from flagging campagns.

Better yet; maybe users should be able to write their OWN warnings, like; "Warning, if you are easilly offended, Fuck off" or whatever.

You know, similar to the currant Adult Check thing, except the Channel Owners can turn it on and off themselves.

That is bull, if a video is most watched let it be there. Thats not a youtube for all of us, its a youtube for those whingy parents that doent want their 7 year olds to know what a swear word is, anyone who isn't prepared for vulgar language shouldnt be surfing the net in the first place

First with this "Algorithmically Demoted" bullshit WTF does that even mean, second of all I know theres a bunch of kiddies that surf this site most of which shouldn't even be on here and now in order to cater for the kiddy crowd they're fucking up everyone.Youtube if you want to make the site kiddy friendly then make one of those check boxes like you did with partner vids, Don't fuck it for those who don't want it.Second with this changing thumbnail system, I agree that misleading thumbnails are a big problem on Youtube, but the path they're taking with this is a disaster waiting to happen.Whilst there are people out there that use provocative and misleading thumbnail there are those who try to have a decent looking cover. cause for a good vid to be noticed it needs a good icon, but if that privilege is taken away then it won't get viewed & Youtube won't get the view or cash. You guys shot yourselves in the foot.

Algorithmically demoting (using speech recognition or something??) videos with profanity is a bad idea. If they're popular, let them be popular. Youtube is a non-coercive environment, it takes next to no effort to stop watching a video if you don't like it. Let people choose for themselves what they want to watch. Please stop doing it for them.

Also, thumbnails that are 'selected algorithmically'? Fine, but does this happen in a predictable way? Is it random? Is it based on the rate of change of content in the video, to detect new slides or action scenes?

Thumbnails - Animate the preview with 5 frames automatically choosen on mouseover, but let people choose any thumbnail from any percentages. This avoids misleading thumbs.

Profanity - If the technology is based on voice recognition have a default option to automatically bleep the profanity. Just like Google images auto detects adult content. DO NOT demote videos artificially.

Profanity 2 - Only allow profanity/suggestive content to be viewed by a user with an account marked as over 18. DO NOT demote videos. Grey them out in the most viewed etc lists with a clear mouseover/page telling them they need a real account to view (or show the bleeped version)

Lesson - There is no reason at all to demote or censor videos. There is always a reasonable solution.

Funny how there's no positive response to this and do you think they will listen? Nah... whoever approved this stupid scheme is probably some boring rich tosspot in a high castle with a fat Xmas bonus coming trying to please the bourgeoisie who barely even use sites like this.

YouTube will fail if it follows this path, and frankly, with this sort of censorship crap, who cares? Plenty of other sites out there...

Before you jump to conclusions please realise that Profanity is getting more and more fucking common, Please realise that youtube was brought into fame by teens, not by parents.... or are you doing this for the sake of shareholders or some useless excuse liek that?

What does "Improved thumbnails - You'll still have three thumbnails to choose from, but they will no longer be auto-generated from the 25/50/75 points in the video index" ACTUALLY mean?...I can choose my own image from ANY of the stills in my vids, or what?It seems ill thought through if you can't even explain it properly.

Everyone is offended by something. Collectively we are all offended by everything. Who is to decide what is offensive enough to warrant removal or "algorithmic demotion"?

Some topics (eg religion) are so taboo in many societies that even mentioning them causes massive offence. How dare anyone point out the ludicrous, insane, and illogical claims made by the worlds religions! We must respect the faith of other, no matter how f*cked up it is. Yeah right.

1. Pointless censorship is norally wrong no matter how you look at it.

2. People have the ability to censor themselves, and parents to censor their children. You don't need to do it for them.

3. An automatic system like this is doomed to fail. There is NO software in existance reliable enough to handle it. A video with Sean Connery saying the word "Sit" would get demoted, as the software would think he was saying "shit". Think about it.

3. This WILL be the death of You Tube. That means you make a lot less $$ in your pockets fucktards.

A better idea than censorship would be for all the idiots who complain about profanity, sex and violence to be encased in concrete and buried 100km underground so that the REAL WORLD cant hurt or offend them anymore.

One of the many thingsI,ve allways loved about YouTube is that it gives us a platform toshare our thoughts and ideas with the world. We are all different with opinions that vary greatly. That,s what makes us who we are...I,ve been reading these comments here..and not 1 is positive...you guys really need to reconsider this. I agree that vids should be rated, but I think that the current system of flagging and giving a mature content warning works fine with the exception of occassionally having a vid flagged by haters. I love this site and have enjoyed it for nearly 3 yrs under 2 account names. My vids are not suitable for kids as I speak my mind...language and all, however, there has to be a better system for filtering mature age content then what you are considering here. I realise it,s a hard decision to make...but obviously, after reading these comments....no-body wants this new change...Please dont send YouTube to the scrap heap, because there will be plenty of other present and future sites that will take it,s place in a heart beat....Cheerz and Beerz...Pete..

One of the many thingsI,ve allways loved about YouTube is that it gives us a platform toshare our thoughts and ideas with the world. We are all different with opinions that vary greatly. That,s what makes us who we are...I,ve been reading these comments here..and not 1 is positive...you guys really need to reconsider this. I agree that vids should be rated, but I think that the current system of flagging and giving a mature content warning works fine with the exception of occassionally having a vid flagged by haters. I love this site and have enjoyed it for nearly 3 yrs under 2 account names. My vids are not suitable for kids as I speak my mind...language and all, however, there has to be a better system for filtering mature age content then what you are considering here. I realise it,s a hard decision to make...but obviously, after reading these comments....no-body wants this new change...Please dont send YouTube to the scrap heap, because there will be plenty of other present and future sites that will take it,s place in a heart beat....Cheerz and Beerz...Pete..

Wow. You guys lose a billion respect points. I would cordially advise you that this is quite a bad decision because those are the videos that do get top viewed. By censoring youtube, many viewers will now go to other video sharing sites, ones that DO NOT CENSOR THEIR VIDS. This means that you will get fewer hits, which means less money from advertisers, and less variety of videos. Which means that what will be left is a telly tubby channel and not much else. Just thought I should point that out to you.

Re Improved Thumbnails- YouTube has made some great new improvements but one thing I'm surprised still hasn't been done which I think is very important, that is the ability to select any frame as your video's Thumbnail. The right one means a lot more viewers!

Yay! Censorship! Well done, folks, another blow against freedom of speech. It amazes me you guys suggest this is "for all of us." No it isn't. It's for advertising dollars, protect-the-children nutters, and religious fundamentalists.

"A YouTube for All of Us"... you must mean a youtube for strict christians where saying toilet is considered rude and having sex is "sin" and overly protective parents that only let there 14 year old kids watch G to PG 13 rated movies and TV shows

This is crap, youtube for all of us?sounds like youtube for kids and parents.. this is shit. it's not for all of us.. it's for a few wacko parents and their kids. stuff em!why don't you guys start a new domain PooTube and enforce this policy there.

Well it seems like being on youtube from now on will be like watching the Disney Channel :| And what exactly does "algorithmically demoted" mean? Digitally shafting anyone with a big mouth (or ass for that matter?) How about permanently banning the trolls, I'm sure many youtube users would appreciate that. It might be a good idea to start up a separate G-rated site just for all the people who apparently take things too personally and become offended at the slightest hint of impropriety. What's next, 5-10 blinking and talking ads on every page like myspace? That's one of the reasons I killed my account on there by the way, not to mention the attention whores.

A big thank you YOU TUBE for a great medium where everybody can share their videos, views and feelings.A lot of people seem to be complaining about certain rules. Well, if you don't like 'em.... leave.If I invite you into my house, and you start bad-mouthing me and my place... I will throw you out. Think about what you are saying... YT is free, has the best collection of music and videos - bar none ... Have fun, enjoy the ride, and contribute.

Restricting free speech is what u tube is doing by blocking profanity- i dont like profanity but that is not the point.. What else are we going to block ? stuff that questions our governement ? if this censorship policy does not get reversed i will leave u-tube and i will encourgage everyone i contact to leave too, we will find a site where free speech still means free speech and leave this site for the sheeple...to watch bubble gum and barbies. this is an outrage and may be the begining of the end of U-tube. mangement is missing the point of what made u-tube great. . People know when stuff is white washed and will leave. if i want to see lies i will watch Foxnews . u-tubers, there is a black ban over this issue on on 19 -21 dec 08, take part, spread the word, and do not watch u-tube to help preserve free speech.. i love u tube, but i think it is being swayed by commercial interest. if companies want stuff white washed tell them to advertise elsewhere. preserve u-tube free speech.

I hope YouTube are reading these comments and seeing the protest videos about this censorship. And as for the thumbnail changes. An improvement would be to allow the video owner to choose their own thumbnail from all the frames in the video. Making the thumbnail generator completely random is only going to upset people, not improve anything.

YouTube, please take the feedback on these pages and reverse the mistaken "Improvements"

For all you people protesting the censorship changes, get over it! There will still be violence, adult themes and swearing, just sexually suggestive content will demoted. And it's not blocking free speech. I can still say FUCK YOUTUBE! but I just can't post a vid showing someone suggestively raping Youtube. If you want sexual content there are plenty of porn sites all over the internet go there. Anyway, good on ya Youtube.

So what your trying to do is create a G rated youtube? do kids who are only allowed G rated things even know how to use youtube. if so.. so what? just put a warning on a video if you think its inappropriate... newgrounds is great because it has ratings on all of its videos

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